19 September 2009

As part of my patch walk that morning, I saw a few sparrows.
First, by Frank Banfield Park, I could hear some but did not locate them, though I saw 1 at the nests on Winslow Road on my way back.
On Chancellors Road, I saw a group of at least 6 alternating between a bush and guttering, occasionally going onto aerials with starlings:



I didn't see any by Riverside Studio, but managed to catch a few by Crabtree Wharf in a rare semi-cooperative mood to be on camera:





More photos in the flickr album.

13 September 2009

I went to check on the sparrows at Abbey Gardens this morning, as I had not done so for a while, and needed some fresh air.
All through the estate, could not hear or see any. Then, on the patch of green alongside (which name I still don't know), still no sign of them in the bushes, until I was almost back at Greyhound Road. I could hear an intermittent peep from a bush. Suddenly a woosh and a few more landed in that bush, but well inside. Another woosh and 10-12 flew from the bush onto 2 cherry laurels (?), where I managed to take 1 photo:



But that was it, because, as I was taking the photo, hence missing almost all the action, another bird, sparrowhawk maybe, flew by the trees and they all disappeared inside. I could again hear the occasional pip, but never saw any again.

Similarly, last Thursday, I didn't see any, nor hear any, on the path by the supermarket in Sands End. But, as I was leaving, suddenly, all the pigeons and black headed gulls lifted. A sparrowhawk briefly circled above the supermarket and disappeared towards Fulham Broadway.

let's start

To launch this blog, here is a photo I took this afternoon by the supermarket. This one obligingly posed for me, which is not often the case, so I grabbed the opportunity.